Ignorance on the part of owners is at the
root of most of the problems that horses face today. Too many well meaning horse owners think that obesity is a trait
to be desired in horses. The horrible phrase used of halter competition horses the "fat is the best color"
embodies this ignorance. It is sad how many people think that it is cruel to refrain from feeding a fat horse "just
a little can of grain."
Nearly
as sad is the sight of so many horses who wear shoes "to protect their hooves" when the reality is that their hooves
need to be protected from shoes.
But surely
nothing can be worse than the warm, comfortable stall. We punish humans by confining them in 8x12 prison cells, yet many,
if not most, think that a stable is not only good for a horse, but is an absolute necessity. Every time I hear that
horrible phrase, "turnout," I know that I am about to hear about a horse who is being abused by being kept confined
in a stall for at least a portion of the day and allowed to be turned out to a more normal existence only for a portion of
that day. For horses, we call this horrid environment full stable board. For humans, we call it maximum security
prison. If you think that your horse loves his stable, just open the door and step back and see what decision he makes.
Horses evolved to be on the move. In some
regions of the Great Basin mustang herds walk an average of 17 miles each day for water. Movement is required for healthy
hooves and for healthy digestion.
All horses benefit from having solid natural hooves.
Pete Ramey's work on treating founder with natural hoof trimming shows how effective natural trimming can be.
Joe Camp's great book,"The Soul of a Horse", explains the importance of natural horse care
better than any work I have come across. Tellingly, in an interview on our blog, Mill Swamp Indian Horse Views, Joe
points out that large tack and feed stores refuse to sell his book. Sometimes honesty is just bad business, I suppose.
